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Diary of Lady Murasaki (Penguin Classics)
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 895.681403
EAN: 9780140435764
Edition: 1
ISBN: 014043576X
Label: Penguin Classics
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 144
Publication Date: March 09, 1999
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Studio: Penguin Classics
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - A great look at Japanese history
The Diary of Lady Murasaki is a very fine read, even by today's standards. Sadly short due to age, it still offers an amazing insight into court life of the time.
The book's coverage of both important court events and the personal outlook of Murasaki herself on everything from fashion to her contemporaries is eye-opening to say the least. Great attention is paid to detail where she was able to remember any detail at all, and when she does not remember detail, she always made a note ... Read More
Rating:  - A must read for Asian history buffs.
And a companion piece ot the Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon. The world of courtiers and courtesans, intrigues, affairs.
Daily soaps will never be exciting once you've read this book! WOW!
Rating: - A Slim Tome that Packs Quite a Punch
First off, Although the book i s 91 pages long there is a 52 page introduction. The introduction by Bowring is very well done, especially for those who are unfamiliar with Heian era Japan, like me. Bowring gives adequate introductions to the architecture, dress, religion, and other things of culture at the time. Although the info he gives of Murasaki Shikibu is scant, he does give the reader all of the information that is known about the author of the Genji monogatari. The diary itself is a wonderful ... Read More
Rating: - An important Historical Document
Aside from the "tale of Genji" this is the only known writings of Lady Murasaki. The book is slim, as not much of her personal diary survived. However, it does have a good introduction, including a VERY helpful picture of a court lady in her dress. If you ever read any of these old court diaries, you come to appreciate a good picture like this because the women who wrote these books dwelled, almost obessivly on what they wore.
The clarity and quality of the writing is this slim volume ... Read More
Rating: - Visions of the past, for those to follow
Diaries in the west are usually kept for personal reference. Such was not the case in ancient Japan or China. Diaries were kept for those who came after, as guidebooks and records of important events. This diary was perhaps written for the author's daughter, instructing her on how to behave and what to expect if she became a lady-in-waiting for one of the higher nobility. As such it gives a nice peek into how people (at least the author) viewed life about 1000 years ago, and also records some of the ... Read More
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